Be faithful in small things...

 You know, half the time I just whack these cheesy sentiments down on a card without really paying attention to them. Some stamps I've seen are so ridiculously schmaltzy that I'm too embarrassed to use them. I've used a few lately, though, that I thought were profound and applicable. Think of the small things you do that really make a difference: skincare, putting things away instead of down, dishes loaded immediately, small dietary changes, these things are small, but make a big difference. Sometimes things look too big to tackle, but chip away at the small things, and after a while, it's done.

I think that's My Mind's Eye paper, and a Unity stamp.

 This crazy card came about because I was trying to use SU!'s Island Blossoms. I think it was a fail. I never could make anything decent when it was new, and it seems I still can't. I love that Lavender SU! embossing powder, though! It's super pretty IRL.

 I made these two cards for my middle son's graduation thank you's. My husband thought the top one might not be appropriate for some people, so I made a bunch of the tree ones as well. The caterpillar is a Tweety Jill Designs stamp. I love every single stamp she has ever produced! I only have five sets, as they are PRICEY! However, the quality is unbelievable. These stamps will never lose their stick. If you don't have any, treat yourself to a set and see what I mean!

That's BG Aged & Confused paper. I used the same line for our oldest son's graduation thank you cards. It's perfect for teenaged boys; I've found nothing better, actually. I stamped the image in Versafine Onyx and embossed in SU! clear. That's the way I ALWAYS do embossed black images. Black ep is just a big mess, so I never use it.

 This gorgeous Aspen background stamp is from A Muse Studio. You can count on a|s for beautifully designed stamps that are trendy but not fleeting. This stamp will still be useable down the road, it has real staying power. My favorite white ep is from a|s. The container in huge, and the price is small. I'd get all of them if I were you;) That's what I did!

I LOVE this fun stamp! I think it's Theresa Collins, but I can't be sure. I used to be able to remember every single stamp from every single set, but no more. If you HAVE to know, leave me a comment, and I'll go see for sure who made it and let you know. The papers are Basic Grey Boxer, which I love to use on masculine cards. I used my beloved Charcoal chalk ink here. Oh, ColorBox, how did I ever live without you?

Friends...

 This is an all A Muse Studio card. I used black and white embossing powders. I love to emboss, I don't think I'll ever get tired of it!

 Another friendship card. This is mostly My Mind's Eye, which is one of my all time favorite companies. I pretty much love everything they make. One thing I don't like is how strongly their glitter paper smells. Even when it's old, like this is, the smell is still strong! But oh, is it ever pretty!!

 This is more MME glitter paper, plus an assortment of hearts. The super curvy hearts are a|s, and the others are nesties.

 More MME paper, and a very old dress stamp. I put some vintage trim over the skirt to make it 3D. The tag is K & Co.

This is all Heidi Grace from a long time ago. Such a sweet line that was. Mine is all gone, not even a scrap is left over. I don't like brights, but these colors were all softened, but still cheerful.

I hope you have had some time to play in your stamp room recently. It's good for the soul, you know!!

Project Life Week 2: Now

 This is the NOW side of my Project Life album for Week Two of 2013. I loved making it, just like I love making them still at Week 16. This is a pretty long time for me to stay with something. I think I'm going to make it! I hope so anyway, because the failure to complete the project would be right there in my albums!

 The Week 2 card is from my Amber Edition of  PL. I tried to pick up colors from my stash to coordinate. These alphabet stickers are American Crafts remarks, roosevelt jr. I love them for PL. They are just the right size for titles, and they are flat. I've had these for seven or eight years, so I doubt they're still available.

 The beginning of January was hard on my big boys. Ross badly injured his ankle, and Sky had a horrific wisdom tooth debacle.

 The top left pocket in this photo is what happens when you load your paper into the printer upside down. Who knew? The cork alpha stickers are from Creative Imaginations. They are the oldest alpha stickers I have; I bought them nine or 10 years ago. They still stick like I bought them yesterday.

 More Amber journaling cards. I have really enjoyed using them, but I don't think I'll buy another PL kit because there are so many other products out there I want to use. Also, it gets a little boring working with the same colors for a whole year.

 Lots of typewriter journaling with my 1952 Underwood. My writing is huge, so to fit it PL pockets would be virtually impossible.

I finished up with the week's grocery receipt. I haven't been doing that lately, mostly because I'm so disgusted at my lack of success in saving money at the grocery store.

Birthday Wishes

 Desk clean-up card, although anyone who has ever seen my desk knows that it is never clean. I used Bazzil Bling card base and MME glitter paper. That MME 8x8 pad has seen a lot of action over the years, but it's still hanging on. The gorgeous butterfly is my favorite A Muse Studio Butterfly Trio die set.

 I used real vintage crepe paper for this rosette-love that stuff!! It's much nicer than what you can buy today.

 I think this is mostly old Heidi Grace. The epoxy tags might be K&Co, I buy a lot of their embellishments.

 I used Crafty Secrets stickers here, and a K&Co adhesive border.

More of that MME pad here, plus some vintage snippets, like the dictionary paper and baby blue trim.

It's a beautiful day here today, and I only have half a day to work. Tonight we get to go watch Wilson in his first school play. He plays a star, an actual star, not a Hollywood star. This should be good. Very, very good.

Project Life Week 2: Then

 Hello! Thanks for stopping by! In case you missed my first couple of posts on how I do Project Life, let me review. On the left side, I do our wedding of almost 25 years ago. On the right, I do current events. Today is a left side, I was working with very old photos and memories, both a bit faded and worse for the wear.

 You can click on any photo to make it larger.

 Here, I sewed the photo directly to the mount, and wrote the names in a Bic marker.

 More sewing, a little stamping and embossing, and more of my hand writing. This is all just Stampin' Up! cardstock that matches the Amber Project Life Edition I'm using.

 Here you can see an Amber Edition journaling card on the left, and a patterned paper card cut from my paper stash. I have no intention of only using Amber stuff in this album. I enjoy mixing it up and using stuff from my stash.

 I love to staple things together, and it couldn't be more perfect for PL because it's flat. I stamped on the card on the right, and I think that gorgeous brad is from Prima.

 I try to use vintage dictionary paper on every page. It's one of the elements I will use throughout the album.

On the bottom of this picture is a K&Co adhesive border. I LOVE these things for PL. They are flat, and come complete with glitter. Plus, they are each 12 inches long, so you can easily use just one on a two page spread.

So, that's the old side of Week 2. I'm caught up with my album right now, and am enjoying it so much! Most weeks, I show improvement, and my pages look a little better than the week before. Also, I'm getting much better at remembering to take pictures of our daily life. I hope eventually to always have enough photos for a two page spread of current events.

Teacher Christmas gifts

 For Christmas last year, Wilson's teachers all got mini journals and note cubes. The stamped image is non-denominational. It reads, "Feel the magic of the season." I was hoping that wasn't offensive to anyone. No one threw their mini journal back at Wilson in an offended huff, so I think they worked out.

 They will definitely have plenty of places to write things down. The stamp is a Gina K. Designs stamp.

 Next year, I won't make any of the gifts Christmas themed, unless they are an actual Christmas item. The ribbon is Stampin' Up! I can't remember who makes the die, but it's in a little folder, and it cuts and embosses on one pass. I love it to death.

 Mini journals are useful. I use a fall themed mini journal as a food diary. I am trying to pay attention to what I eat. I generally eat way over or way under my daily calorie quota. You'd think this would work out to a nice, even weight, but it doesn't, at least not when you are overweight to begin with. I think it works perfectly for skinny people like my husband.

It's a beautiful day here in Pueblo. Right now it's 45 degrees, and we're looking for a high of 74. Colorado's weather is truly fabulous most of the time. Our weather and geological impressiveness are why everyone wants to be here, which is why it's so expensive. Anyhow, I think it's nice enough to get outside and take some Project Life photos. For the past month, the weekends have not been conducive to outdoor photography of paper. Rocks, maybe. Paper, no. Scissors, perhaps. .

Friends are flowers...

 All five of these cards use stamps and supplies from the very first Gina K. Designs Stamp TV kit. Some stamps I tire of quickly, but I have loved this kit for years.

 I have been trying to use stuff up lately, and it's not easy, I tell ya! When you have as much as I do, and you, too, probably, I'm not sure it's even possible. GKD usually avoids super trendy stuff, so the stamps hold up over time.

 The STV kits are jam packed with supplies. You can just make cards forever and still have leftovers! These lilies won't ever be out of style. And don't even get me started on the iris stamp below-love that thing!

 I have recently joined three new Project Life based kit clubs. SHHH. I know I shouldn't have, but they were irresistible! Also, I need to infuse my stash with some fresh, new stuff.

I'll be sure to tell you all about them when one arrives, which could be as soon as tomorrow, if I'm lucky! I doubt it will be full of pink and brown, don't you? These colors still sell well in my Etsy shop. What's in style with papercrafters is not always what the general public is looking for. That's a good reminder for all of us-the people you craft for don't know or care if you're using the latest and greatest!